Rail Fence Quilt Patterns

Finding rail fence quilt patterns online is easy given they are one of the most popular designs to use. Quilters of all ages and skill level enjoy making rail fence quilt patterns because it's about technique and creativity.

Quiltmakers know that you can use the same design repeatedly, but then change one detail and you have new rail fence quilt patterns to work with. That is the joy of quilting. Those who are interested in picking up this wonderful habit are often started out with rail fence quilt patterns. That's because they are easy to teach and explain.

At quilting bees centuries ago and just last month, quilters were discussing rail fence quilt patterns. That's how long this pattern has been apart of the quilting repertoire. While quilters are together, they discuss new patterns and new techniques. Even though these rail fence quilt patterns are old, technology has caught up with the process.

As a quilter, you can design your rail fence quilt using a computer program. This helps you lay out your design by giving you a grid and lets you play around with your color choices without having to make the first stitch.

Rail fence blanket designs are just a few designs that you can choose from when you decide to make a comforter. You could also choose a log cabin, raggedy design or even an appliqué pattern.

Beginning By Riding the Rail

The rail fence quilt patterns are used by those who just started to quilt and those who are looking for a quick project. The good thing about these patterns is that they are easy to use and can be used for any number of things.

If you need to make a baby quilt quickly, rail fence patterns are going to give you an entertaining design that will catch anyone's attention, even that of an infant. Rail fence patterns can also be used on bags, wall hangings and bedspreads.

Rail fence quilt patterns almost look like a maze sometimes because how the squares are laid out. By having straight lines going in different directions without ever really connecting, you are giving movement to the design.

There are literally thousands of designs that follow this pattern because you can do almost anything with a line. Plus the addition of color brings the same old tired design new life. The color you choose and the techniques you use are going to show on the final product.

Techniques and Tips for Patterns

Most beginners are going to choose rail fence quilt patterns to start their quilting career. In most community colleges or quilting classes, these patterns are used to demonstrate rotary cutting and strip piecing.

Strip piecing is like an assembly line when you compare it to stitching each patch at a time. Instead of going block by block, a quilter basically just strips the fabric down into strips that are going to be sewn together to create rail fence patterns.

As far as the rail fence quilt patterns go, the strips are going to be placed based on color and will be sewn all in the same direction. This means you can just lay three strips of fabric vertically and sew them together. Then when you are laying out your quilt, you can lay them in different directions to give the rail fence or maze appearance to the quilt, comforter or pillow.

Following Your Color Theme

Rail fence quilt patterns are very specific about their color patterns. More often than note, a rail fence design is going to use monochromatic colors. Monochromatic is when you use several values of one color.

For example, purple, violet and pastel purple would be a monochromatic color scheme for your rail fence quilt patterns. The opposite of monochromatic is achromatic which is when you use no colors or only neutral colors.

Rail fence quilt patterns are going to use one large focus fabric for the border and complimentary railings. Before you can choose these colors, you are going to have to understand a little bit about color.

It may seem silly or frivolous to pay attention to, but colors are very powerful representations of emotion. Red can show passion and white can represent a time of peace or virtue. Each color of the rail fence is going to represent something to an individual. There are certain colors in a culture to that stand out.

In the United States black is representative of mourning. If a death occurs, people wear black to a funeral. It's not like this with all cultures though. This is something you might want to think about when you are giving your quilt away.

What the quilt is going to be used for plays a big part in which color you choose for the comforter, blanket or pillow. A comforter in a young lady's room isn't going to necessarily be the same color scheme you would choose to represent your grandson's triumphant winning baseball season. Yes, a quilt can be made for such a purpose.

That's why it is good to think about what colors other people like. It helps you learn more about their personality. A person that likes orange may be a vibrant and energetic person, whereas someone who wears pastel may be a little more proper and/or shy.

A few color tips you might want to follow when you are working with rail fence quilt patterns include the following:

Before you start to work with any color, make sure you wash the fabric first. There is even a colorfast material that you can purchase for your quilts and pillows, so that when they are washed they do not run. Having dye in your washer and/or dryer isn't a pleasant experience.

There are several categories that a color can fall into including cool and warm. Cool colors are most often a shade of blue, green or purple. They create a very calming atmosphere. Warm colors will brighten a room for you by using a version of yellow, orange or red.

A technique called bleeding is done when you use the two colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. By placing them side by side, you create a soft effect. The reverse of this is using complementary colors and those are the ones on opposite sides of the color wheel.

One of the great things about choosing colors for you rail fence quilt patterns is that you don't have to get it right on the first try. If you start a comforter or blanket and realize that you would rather use a different set of colors, don't box yourself in. Just unstitch and try again. You could even just keep what you've already done as scrap material to be used in other types of quilt patterns.

Look online for your free rail fence quilt patterns and take a go at one of them. Take your time and enjoy yourself. Get a group together or save it as a surprise. Either way, quilting should be fun so make your rail fence design an enjoyable one.